Francesca Silver riding Case in Point Photo courtesy Take The Moment Photography
Talent ID Squad member Francesca Silver, from Martinborough, triumphed in the first ESNZ Eventing Super League class of the autumn season at Puhinui (Auckland) over the weekend, pulling up from fifth after the dressage on Case in Point to win at just their second 3* start.
The Massey University student scored 59.5 dressage penalties and had two showjumping rails down on Saturday, but still moved into third place in the Honda CIC3* class, then produced one of the three clear cross-country rounds, incurring 16.4 time penalties, for a final score of 84.3 penalties.
Monica Oakley, Waipukurau, finished second on Fontain, having led after the dressage with a score of 48.2 penalties, but followed that with an expensive showjumping round, dropping four rails and incurring twelve time penalties to be fifth overnight. However she produced the fastest cross-country round with 13.6 time penalties to finish on 89.8 penalties.
Samantha Felton, Matangi, produced the third clear cross-country round on Ricker Ridge Escada, incurring 18.8 time penalties, to improve from fourth overnight to take third place. She was fourth after the dressage with 59.7 penalties and held that place despite two showjumping rails down and five time penalties, finishing with 91.5 penalties overall.
Shelley Ross, Helensville, led overnight with Coleraine Coaltown having been second after the dressage and producing the only clear showjumping round, but had trouble across country to drop out of contention.
ESNZ EVENTING SUPER LEAGUE
Standings after five events: Fraser King, Cambridge, Nadal KSNZ, 141 pts; Donna Smith, Te Kauwhata, Tangolooma, 105 pts; Clarke Johnstone, Matangi, Balmoral Sensation, 96 pts; Francesca Silver, Martinborough, Case in Point, 72 pts; Monica Oakley, Waipukurau, Fontain, 72 pts; Samantha Felton, Matangi, Ricker Ridge Escada, 57 pts.
Virginia Caro
